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PRACTICAL AUCTION PRINCIPLES 

by 

ELIZABETH C. BOYDEN 



Copyright 1921 

Elizabeth C. Boyden 
Haver ford, Pa. 



Mimeographed by 
Johnson & Prince 



©CH609594 

FEB -5 1321 



ETIQUETTE 



Cut for partners, deal,, position at the table 
and cards. Low wins, and the Ace is low in cut- 
ting. Between two cards of otherwise equal value, 
the Spade ranks lowest, Heart next, etc. 

Immediately before dealing the pack should be 
cut by the player at the dealer's right who should 
not complete the cut. The other pack should be 
shuffled by the dealer's partner and placed at the 
left of the player next to deal where it should re- 
main until time to be cut for the next deal. 

The score sheet should be kept on the table in 
plain sight of all players, with figures large 
enough to be seen by all. 

All bidding should be simple as "No Bid" or "l 
Pass" - "One Heart" - "Double One Heart" etc. Try 
to a void all mannerisms. Kever betray by hesita- 
tion the character of your hand, but try and be 
uniform in the time you take to play each card. 

Never snap the cards or shuffle during the 
play of the hand. 

Remember that rules are made to be enforced, 
and pay cheerfully any penalty incurred through 
your own carelessness. 

Remember a card in the dummy touched by the 
declarer is played unless he says "Arranging" or 
words to that effect, but a card from the de- 
clarer's own hand is not played until actually 
quitted. 

As dummy always ask your partner if he has 
no more of a suit, when he fails to follow. It 
may save a revoke. Do not announce that you are 
"failing" when your partner does not ask. 

Remember, everyone cannot become an expert, 
but it is within the power of all to be an a- 
greeable partner, never betray displeasure dur- 
ing the play of the hand. 

Keep your mind on the game, and while avoid- 
ing carelessness, do not take an unreasonable 
time to think. 

Do not remove from your hand the card you 
expect to play, until after the preceding adver- 
sary has played to the trick. This habit often 
betrays your hand to a clever adversary. 

Do not converse when Dummy* 

Elizabeth C* Boyden, 
Haverford, Pa., 1921. 



THE ORIGINAL SUIT BID 



For a sound Original Bid of One or more in 
any suit, your hand should contain: 

At least two sure quick tricks (one of them 
in the suit bid) that can be depended on by your 
partner whatever becomes the final trump. 

A "quick trick" is an Ace or a King-Queen 

A guarded King becomes a "quick trick" about 

half the time so two guarded Kings are worth 

one "Quick Trick" • 

Qxx is worth x of a "quick trick" 

KJIO " " f " " " " 

AQx and AJ10 are worth lx quick tricks 

AQJ " KQJ " " l| " 

Bid "One Spade" or "One Heart" with AKxxx,AKQx 

or AKJ1Q and no outside "Quick Trick" 

AQJ 10, AQJxx,KQJ30, KQJxx and \ m outside 

"Quick Trick", 

AQxxx,AJ10xx,KQ10xx,AQJx and -f an outside 
"Quick Trick", 

AJxxx,Axxxxx,KQxxx and one outside "Quick Trick" 

Bid "One Diamond" or "One Club" with the 
same holding as above, except many like a bid 
of One in the minor suits with four to the Ace, 
King or Ace, Queen and an outside Ace or King, 
Queen, 

Remember:- A bid of "One Spade" or "One 
Heart" shows a desire to play the hand, A bid 
of "One Diamond" or "One Club" offers help to 
partner for any better make. 

Bid "Two Spades" or "Two Hearts" to show 
a strong six card suit* It tells Partner to 
raise your bid on outside tricks no matter how 
weak he may be in trumps. 

This bid should never be used when your 
hand can support a bid from your partner of 
the other Major suit. 

Bid "Three" or "Four""3pades or Hearts" 
with seven or more of the suit and a desire to 
shut out opposing Bids. 

Bid "Four or Five Diamonds or Clubs" with 
a very strong hand in the hope of shutting out a 
majpr suit. ..bid from adversary , (OVER) 



Holding two suits of equal strength - Bid 
the suit of higher value firet, and on the 
second round of bidding try to show the other 
suit. Exceptions 

(a) With Spades and Clubs, bid the Clubs first. 

(b) ; hen only one of the suits has high honors - 
bid that suit first. 



Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Haverford, Pa./ 1921. 



THE ORIGINAL "NO TRUMP" BID 



For a sound original bid of "One No Trump" 
your hand should contain: 

(a) Strength divided in at least three suits 

(b) No sound "Spade" or "Heart" bid. 

Bid "One No Trump" with 

(a) Three Aces 

(b) Twe Aces and protection in a third suit 

(c) One Ace and two other suits protected 
(Protection means a sure trick in the suit 

no matter where or how it is led - KQ- 
QJ10- KJ 10- J, 10,9,2) 
{.,d) A Queen above the average with at least 
three suits guarded. 

(A guarded honor is one which may or may 
not stop the suit - Kx- Qxx etc.) 
Average - One Ace, one King:, One Queen and 
one Jack. 

To bid "No Trump" without an Ace, you should 
have unusual strength in all suits. 

Exceptional "No Trump" Bids: 

(a) Spades AKxx (b) Spades xx 

Hearts AKxx Hearts xx 

Clubs xxx Clubs AKQxxx 

Dia* xx Dia. Axx 

In choosing between a bid of "One No Trump" or 
a good Major suit, give the suit the preference. 
Between a "One No Trump" or a Minor suit, give "No 
Trump" the preference unless you have already 
scored something toward the game. 

Bid "Two No Trump" 

Some authorities favor bidding "Two No Trump" 
on hands containing Four Aces, or uneven}^ di- 
vided hands where it seems advisable to try to 
prevent Fourth hand from indicating a suit for 
his partner *s lead. 

With great strength in all suits never make 
an Original bid of more than One, as any bid of 
an adversary may help you to locate a successful 
Finesse or may perhaps enable you to double for 
a good Penalty. 

Elizabeth C. Boyden 
Haverford, Pa., 1921. 



BIDDING BY "SECOND PLAYER" 



A. When dealer passes - 

Follow rules for Original Bids except - Bear 
in mind your partner as Fourth hand will 
throw out an average hand so try to bid on 
all doubtful No Trumpers and hands that look 
too good to have thrown out. 

B. Over "One No Trump" 

(a) With a solid suit - Pass* 

(b) Holding KQJxx with a Re-entry card - Pass 
unless you see probability of game with 
average help from partner. 

(c) Be cautious about bidding second hand when 
it may influence the adversary to switch 
to a major suit against which you have no 
defense. Pass unless your hand is strong 
enough to continue bidding without assist- 
ance from your partner • 

(d) Seldom bid a Minor Suit second hand over 
a No Trump. Let your partner have a 
chance to show the suit he wishes led. 

a "Suit Bid" by dealer. 
Over "One Club or "One Diamond" show 
any suit you are anxious to have led if 
Third Hand should bid No Trump. Try to 
shut out ^hird Hand by an unnecessary 
bid of two or more if the hand warrants 
it. 

Over "One Spade" Or "One Heart" bid on 
any suit the hand is strong enough to 
play regardless of high card strength. 
These are recognized by partner as 
"Forced Bids." 

Bid "i^o Trump" only when you have oppon- 
ents suit well stopped. If once stopped, 
you should have four additional sure 
tricks. If twice stopped - three addi- 
tional tricks. 



Elizabeth C. Boyd en, 
Haverford, Pa., 1921. 



C. Over 
(a) 

(b) 
Co) 



DOUBLING 



The Double for Information - 

a: Over an Adversary's "Wo Trump" bid 

When you also hold a "No Trump" hand .with no 
desirable suit bid — Double . 
Your hand should contain at least five tricks 
if the No Trump bidder is on your right, or 
six if he is on your left. Your partner must 
take you out of the double by bidding his best 
suit, no matter how poor, unless he is sure he 
can defeat the No Trump for a good penalty. 

b; Over an Adversary's "Suit" Bid 

Holding strength in the other three suits 
without sufficient length in any one suit to 
warrant a declaration — Double . 
Your partner should bid "No Trump" if he has 
the adversary's suit stopped twice, otherwise 
his longest suit. 

To double a suit bid you should have at least 
five tricks to assist any bid of partners. 

The Re-double, 

a: When your partner's original "No Trump" has 
been doubled by second player, and you also 
hold a No Trump hand -Re -double . 

b: When your partner's ''Suit Bid" has been 
doubled and you also have strength in the 
other suits but are very weak in partner's 
Re-double . 

To Double to defeat. 

Never double an adversary when his contract 
undoubled would not give him game, unless you 
have certain defeat. 

Never double to defeat unless you can also 
double anything your adversary may switch to. 
Remember - Your game is worth more than 100 points 
penalty and the Rubber is worth more than 200 
points. 

Elizabeth C. Boydsn. 



BIDDING BY THIRD PLAYER 



A. When Dealer and Second Hand pass « 

Two players having passed, any real strength- 
is presumably in Fourth Hand, therefore - 

a: Do not bid "No Trump" unless your hand is 
strong enough to require very little as- 
sistance from partner. 

b: Bid any "Suit" you are anxious to have 
led if Fourth Hand should bid No Trump. 

B. When Dealer passes and Second Player bids- 
Follow rules for Second Hand bids except, - 
as you know your partner is weak you need a 
little more strength to justify a bid, es- 
pecially for a No Trump* 

C* When Dealer bids a Minor Suit and Second Hand 
passes - 

a: Bid any good ¥ajof suit *** 

b: Having no good Major suit, bid "One No 
Trump" if you have protection in two 
suits neither of which is the one 
partner bid. 

c: With strength in partner's suit, and 
strength also in one other suit but 
without sufficient length to bid - 
Raise Partner's bid to two. 

D. When Dealer bids a Minor Suit and is overbid 
by Second Player - 

a: Make any good Major Suit Bid 
b: With adversary l s suit stopped twice and 
one other suit protected, Bid No Trump, 
c: If you cannot bid a Major Suit, or No 
Trump - raise partner's bid if you have 
at least three trumps and two sure quick 
tricks. Being void of a suit is worth 
two tricks and a singleton can be counted 
as one trick. 

Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Haver ford, Pa., 1921. 



BIDDING BY THIRD PLAYER — THE TAKE OUT 



A. When Dealer bids No Trump and Second Hand 

passes:- 

a: Holding a worthless hand - bid two of any 
su:,t of six or more cards, or a five card 
salt as good as the Jack. Holding a five 
card suit with no honors - Bid if your 
hand contains a singleton or two double- 
tons. 

b: Bid two of any strong Major suit of at 

least five cards • 
c: Never bid two of a Minor suit if your 

hand contains any help for the No Trump. 

With a powerful Minor suit take your 

partner out with an unnecessary bid of 

"three" or "four". 

B. When Dealer bids "No Trump" and is overbid 
by Second Hand - 

a: Having adversary 1 s suit well stopped with 
other help for partner * s ^Jo Trump 11 - bid 
''Two No Trump". 

bs Having both length and strength in ad- 
versary^ suit but no other help for the 
"No Trump" - "Double" and let your partner 
decide whether to let the double stand or 
go on with the "No Trump" . 

c: Having help for partner* s No Trump but no 
trick in adversary's suit - try and show 
assistance by bidding your best suit* 

d: Having no support for partner's No Trump 
and no strong suit - Pass. 
Do not bid in this position on a long 
weak suit unless you have passed once 
prior to your partners bid. If you have 
passed once he can recognize it as a second- 
ary bid and will not look to you for high 
card strength. 



Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Haverford, Pa., 1921. 



BIDDING BY THIRD PLAYER - ASSISTING PARTNER 



A. When Dealer bids a Major Suit and Second Hand 
passes - 

a: If your hand can help your partner 's, Pass. 
Exception - When very weak in the other 
Major suit advance your partner's bid at 
once as far as your hand will warrant, 

b: Having extreme weakness in your partner's 
suit, try to warn him by bidding any other 
suit your hand warrants, or No Trump if you 
have at least two other suits protected. 

B. When Dealer bids a Major Suit and is over-bid 
by Second Hand - 

a: Holding three or mor« of your partner's 
suit, or two with an honor — raise your 
partner's bid if your hand contains more 
than one sure "quick trick" and continue 
raising him on each subsequent round of 
bidding, once for every additional "quick 
trick 11 . Watch the bidding carefully as a 
guarded King often becomes a "quick trick" 
when you can by inference place the Ace 
upon your night, while if the suit or No 
Trump is bid by your left hand adversary 
the King has no value whatever. 

b: When very weak in your partner's suit - 
ps oe 3, unless you can bid some other ^uit 
or No Trump. 

C. When Dealer makes an unnecessary bid of "Two" 
or more in a Major Suit and is overbid by 
Second Hand - Raise your partner's bid if 
your hand contains two sure quick tricks no 
matter how weak you may be in the trump suit* 



Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Haverford, Pa., 1921. 



BIDDING BY FOURTH PLAYER 



A. When all three players have passed - 
Bid if you see probability of game with 
slight help from your partner ♦ 

With no probability of game - Watch the score 
carefully and throw out the hand unless you 
are sure you have tricks enough to prevent 
your adversaries from making game if they 
should take up the bidding and play the hand* 
Some authorities say you should have four sure 
tricks in your hand to bid in this position • 

B. When Dealer bids No Trump and Second and Third 
hands pass - Bid any suit that it would be 
greatly to your advantage to have your partner 
lead if the dealer continues bidding No Trump • 

C. When your partner's bid is "forced", and both 
adversaries are bidding, you need two sure 
tricks and a possible third to raise your part- 
ner 's bid. 

D. If partner has bid, and Third Hand makes an 
Informatory Double - pass unless you wish to 
use the Re-Double. Make your adversary take 
his partner out. 

E. If your partner makes an Informatory Double, 
and Third hand takes him out - you need not 

bid unless you have a five card suit you wish to 
show. 



Elizabeth C. Bovdeh, 
Haverford, Pa., 1921 



J 



SECOND ROUND OF BIDDING- 



A. When you have bid a suit, and have been over- 
bid by an adversary — 

Count carefully your losing tricks before in- 
creasing your contract* Count any missing 
Ace, King or Queen as a losing trick unless 
you are short enough in the suit to ruff the 
honor, or so long you expect to catch it. 
Trust your partner for one trick, and remember 
that four honors in one hand are worth an ex- 
tra trick* 

Watch the score and over-bid your hand one or 
two tricks if necessary to save a rubber. 
When your adversaries are bidding a minor suit 
it is seldom wise to over-bid unless they have 
already scored something toward game. 

B» When you have bid No Trump and been over-bid 
by adversary — 

a: If you cannot stop the adversary's suit, 
Pass j unless you have a suit you wish to 
bid." 

b: Having adversary 1 s suit stopped but once, 
the other suits should be very strong to 
warrant continuing the No Trump. 

c: Remember - Honors that can be led through, 
will not stop a suit. 

C. When you have bid one suit and partner 
has changed the bid to another suit or No 
Trump and has in turn been over-bid by ad- 
versary — 

Do not raise your partner's bid on the same 
tricks he is already counting on as shown 
by your original Bid. 

D. Any long suit without top honors that could 
not be bid originally can be shown on the 
second round providing the hand has suffi- 
cient strength in other suits to warrant 
attempting to play the hand. 



Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Eaverford, Pa,, 1921 



THE ORIGINAL LEAD - WHEN THERE IS A TRUMP. 



Whenever you hold an Ace King suit, lead the 
King in order to see dummy, and usually follow 
with the best you hold of your partner's suit. 

When your partner has shown No Suit by 
bidding, distinguish between 

(a) Good suits to open,- Suits with honors 
in sequence, or long Ace suits. 

(b) Bad suits to open - 

a: Tenace suits - AQ - AJ - KJ 
b: Three or four to a single honor 
c: Short Ace suits without the King 
In order to avoid leading w Bad Suits" it is 
occasionally necessary to lead a singleton or 
the top of a short suit. 

Never open a short suit when you have four or 
more trumps. 

Lead Ace from - 

(a) Ace, King alone 

(b) From all suits holding Ace without the 
King : 

Lead King from - 

(a) Ace, King and others 

(b) King, Queen with or without others 

Lead Queen from - 

Q J 10 with or without others 
q j 9 n » tt n 

# Q J xx 
Q J x 

Lead Jack from - 

J 10 9 and others 

# J 10 xx 
J 10 x 
J x 

Lead Ten from - 

j'r$ K J 10 and others or the top of a short 
suit. 

From all other holdings of four or more ejards, 
lead your lowest card. 

# Some authorities prefer a low^'Tead from this 
combination* 

f&p Some schorl ties lead Jack from this combina- 
tion. 

Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Haverford, Pa., 1921. 



* - * 



THE ADVERSARIES 1 PLAY WEEN THERE IS A TRUMP 



A. Down and Out Echo, 

On partner * s lead of a King, holding but two 
of the suit without an honor, play the higher 
card first to show you can trump the third 
round of the suit. 

B. The Card of Encouragement. 

On partner's lead of an Ace, play an unnec- 
essarily high card (seven or over) when you 
hold the King, or wish your partner to con- 
tinue the suit. 

C. Never finesse on partner's low lead except - 
when holding the Ace and Jack, with King or 
Q ueen in dummy, finesse the Jack. 

D. Try to take tricks with the lowest of cards 
in sequence, but lead the top. On winning 
the first trick - 

a: Lead through guarded honors and tenace 
suits when dummy is on your left. 

b: Lead up to a weak suit in dummy when 
dummy is on your right. 

c: When returning your partner's suit lead 
the higher of two remaining cards or the 
lowest of three unless one of the three 
is better than* any dummy. 

E. Forcing . 

a: Force the declarer's strong trump hand 
whenever possible by leading winning 
cards. 

b: Lead trumps yourself rather than let the 
weak trump hand make a little trump. 

c: It is too late to force when declarer has 
an established suit and can draw all the 
trumps. Make whatever tricks you have at 
once. 

d: Hesitate to force when in order to do so 
you establish a trick for adversary. 



Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Haverford, Pa., 1921 



i 




THE ADVERS ABIES 1 PLAY 
NO TRUMP 



A* Unblocking, 

a: On partner's lead of an Ace, play your 

highest honor, 
b: Holding four of your partner's suit, or 
three with an honor , keep the lowest card 
until the last round to unblock. 
B« The Eleven Rule. 

On partner's fourth best lead, deduct the spots 
on the card led from eleven and the result will 
tell the number of cards higher than the one - 
led that are not in the leaders hand. 

C. On winning the first trick, return your highest 
card of your partners suit unless — 

a: You have a suit of your own you feel sure is 
better, or 

b: Dummy's holding is such as to make it un- 
wise to lead up to it» 

D. When Dummy's long suit has no Re-entry,keep 
command of it if possible until the declarer 
has none of the suit left to lead. 

E. Discarding. 

a: Discard the suit you do not want led* 
Exceptions o 

Never unguard an honor that might stop the 
opponents suit. Jxx or lOxxx will often 
stop a suit, When forced to discard from 
your strong suit, discard first higher and 
then a lower card to ask for the suit. Any 
single discard as high as a seven is taken 
as a call for the suit. 

b: Beward of discarding all the cards of one 
suit. This is never justified except when 
you must protect other suits, as it exposes 
your partner's hand. 

c: When you can keep but one card of your 
partner's suit to lead keep the lowest, in 
order not to spoil his possible tenace over 
declarer. 



Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Haverford, Pa., 1921* 



I 




THE PLAY CF THE DUMMY WHEN THEPE IS A TRUMP 



A. Lead trumps - 

a: When you have a good suit to play for. 
b: When you have general strength throughout 
the hand* 

c: When there is danger of the adversary's 
making little trumps against you. 

B. Having exhausted your adversaries trumps try 
to establish the longest suit between the two 
hands. Lead low from the weaker hand toward 
the stronger but with high honors in each hand 
play first the winning cards from the hand 
that is shortest in the suit to unblock. 

C. Be cautious about forcing your strong trump 
hand. 

D. When you do not need your trumps for anything 
else it is sometimes to your advantage to con- 
tinue leading them after you have exhausted 
them in your adversaries hands thus forcing 
them to discard and perhaps so weaken their 
hands that they will promote unexpected tricks 
for you. 

E t Do not lead trumps - 

a: When you can trump losing cards in the 
weak trump hand first. 

b: When there are more tricks in a cross-ruff. 

ci When you do not hold the Ace of Trumps and 
have losing cards you can discard by lead- 
ing winning cards in another suit first. 

d: When you have won the first trick in dummy 
and may never get in that hand again, lead 
at once any suit that it is important 
should be led from that hand. 

e: Be cautious about leading trumps when your 
adversary has doubled and there is an es- 
tablished suit against you* 



Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Haverford, la*/ 1921. 



1 



THE PLAY OF THE DUMMY — NO 1SUMP 
CHOICE OF SUITS. 

A. Try to establish the longest suit between the 
two hands* 

With two suits of equal length, play for the 
one which has the most cards in one hand* 
Exception. 

When there is danger of the adversary es- 
tablishing his suit first, play always for 
the suit more easily established. 

B. Never play the winning cards from a suit 
so short it will make your adversary* s 
small cards in the suit good. 

C. Holding two suits of equal length and 
strength, play for the one exposed in dummy. 
Your adversary may discard so as to make the 
unknown suit good. 

D. Never try to establish a suit in a hand with 
no Re-entries unless you can lead times 
enough from the other hand to make the suit. 

UNBLOCKING 

A. Piay the high cards first from the hand that 
is shortest in the suit to Unblock. 
Exception* When you hold nine cards in the 
two hands with the three highest honors - 
Take the first trick in the hand that has 
two of the three honors. If you find four to 
the Jack in one hand against you, you will 

be able to catch the Jack wherever it lies. 

B. It is occasionally necessary to discard 
winning cards in order not to block your 
suit. 

C. When leading commanding cards from the hand 
that is longest in the suit, play next to the 
lowest of a three or four card suit in the 
other hand, keeping the smallest card until 
the last to unblock. 



Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Haver ford, Pa., 1921. 



1 

J 



THE PLAY OF THE DUMMY - NO TRUMP 



A. Second Hand Plays 

a: On adversaries lead of a low card, usual- 
ly play low from dummy. 
Exception 1. With a singly guarded honor in 
dummy, play it second hand unless you hold 
in your own hand - 

A card of equal value, - or 
Jxx, lOxxx, or any two honors, one of 
which is the ten. 
Exception 2 . When you see that Third Hand 
can tell by the Eleven Rule that the leaders 
card will hold the trick - Cover the card 
led with any intermediate card in Dummy when- 
ever dummy has an honor you do not wish them 
to continue leading through* 
Ex ception 5. With two honors in sequence, 
play one second hand unless you can tell by 
the Eleven Rule that a smaller card will win 
the trick. 

b: Cover with fourchette over card led. 

Fourchette-The card next higher and next 

lower than the one led. 
c: Cover an honor with an honor whenever it 

will establish a lower card for yourself 

or dummy. 

B. Ho lding Up . 

When" you have but one trick in the suit ad- 
versaries have led, refuse to take that trick 
until one opponent has none of the suit left 
to lead. 
Exceptions. 

a: When there is another suit even more 

dangerous than the one led to which they 

might switch, 
b: When you have tricks enough for game in 

your two hands with no need to finesse, 
c: Do not hold up when there is a chance you 

may stop the suit a second time. 



Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Eaverford, Pa,, 1921. 



t 
t 

i 



THE PLAY OF THE POMMY FINESSING 

Finessing is - 

a: An attempt to win a trick with a card that is 
not the best you hold or in sequence with it, 

or 

b: An attempt to force an adversary to take a 
trick with one high honor in order to catch 
later another honor in the other adversary 1 s 
hand. 

A. Simple Ace-Queen finesse , 

a: Lead from the hand without the Ace toward 
the Ace- Queen and finesse the Queen. 

b: With A-Q-J-10 divided in the two hands, 
lead the highest card from the hand with- 
out the Ace and finesse. 

c: Do not lead the Queen toward the Ace, Jack 
or Jack toward the Ace Queen unless you 
hold the ten. Lead a low card and 
f inesse* 

d: With Axxx in one hand and QJx or Qxxx in 
the other, lead low from the hand with the 
Ace . 

e: With ten or more cards of the suit in the 
two hands Do not f inesse . Try to lead an 
honor from the hand without the Ace, and 
if not covered by adversary - Play the Ace. 

B. Ac e~ King- Jack fine sse . 

a: If possible defer taking a finesse until 
the second round of the suit. The adver- 
saries 1 cards may then enable you to place 
the missing honor. 

b: Do not lead Jack toward the Ace King un- 
less you hold the ten. 

o: With AJlOx in own hand and K9xx in the 
dummy, lead the Jack and if not covered 
go up with King and finesse on the return. 

d: With nine or more cards of the suit in 
the two hands . — Do not finesse . 

C. King- J ack- Ten finesse . 

Lead low and finesse the ten hoping it will 
force the Ace and that by finessing a second 
time you can catch the other adversary's 
Queen* 

D t t Ac e -Jack-Ten finesse . 

Lead low and finesse the Ten expecting to lose 
the trick. At first opportunity lead low a 
second time from the weaker hand and finesse 
the Jack. 



FINESSING 
THE SUIT TC FINESSE 



A. When you have a choice of suits and can 
finesse in either hand, remember - 

a: Do not finesse into the hand with an 
established suit* 

b: Do not finesse into the hand that can 
lead through a singly guarded honor. 

c: Watch your adversaries T discards and you 
can sometimes locate a successful finesse. 

B. Do not finesse too deeply in trumps when 
there is danger of a ruff or cross-ruff 
against you. 

C. Never lead a single honor toward a single 
honor • 

OBLIGATORY FINESSE 

This is an arbitrary finesse which occurs when 
the cards of a suit must be in a certain position 
for you to win - Example - 

K8763 in one hand and Q54 in the other. You 
have led the three and the Queen held the trick. 
The Ace is therefore marked with second player. 
On leading back if next player play the ten, the 
hand with the Ace must either have it alone, or 
the Ace and Jack. If he has A, J, he wins two 
tricks however you play - Therefore "Duck" the 
trick. Your only hope is that Fourth hand has 
the Ace alone and will have to play it. 

Elizabeth C. Boyd en, 
Haver ford, Pa., 1921. 



THE PLAY OF THE DUMMY — NO TRUMP. 
RE-ENTRIES 



When you can win the first trick in either hand 
stop a moment and decide which suit you are 
going to play for, what finesse you will have 
to take, and which hand will need the most Re- 
entries* 

km Try to clear your long suit before giving up 
your card of Re-entry. It is sometimes nee- 
ess&ry to establish your Re-entry before 
letting your adversaries know which suit you 
are trying to make. 

B« When your suit has four cards in each hand you 
can often make a double Re-entry in either 
hand by leading intermediate cards. 

C# When you may need to lead three times from one 
hand to finesse, and are short of Re-entries, | 
keep a small card in the long hand to play 
under. Example - Holding J83 in one hand, 
and AQ1092 in the other, lead the Jack and if 
not covered play the nine, in order to play 
the two on partner f s eight and so let him lead 
a third time. 

OVERTAKING 

A. YJhen you have but one Re-entry for your suit 
and your cards are all of equal value, it is 
sometimes necessary to overtake your own trick 
in order to continue the lead and establish 
the suit. 

B. It is sometimes necessary to overtake dummy* s 
first trick with an unnecessarily high card 
in your own hand in order to lead a small 
card back through the original leader's hand 
for a Re-entry. 

ADVTSR S ARY T 3 DEFENCE AGAINST DEALER 
With a long unestablished suit in Dummy and 
only one Re-entry, try to force out the Re- 
entry before the declarer can establish the 
suit. 

When the dealer is obviously trying to make 
a Re-entry, try to prevent it by refusing to 
give up your commanding cards • 



Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Faverford, Pa., 1931 



THE PLAY OF THE DUMMY — NO TRUMF 
?£DCKING M . 



Ducking:- Making no attempt to win the first trick 
of the suit you lead, in order to make the entire 
suit later. 

A* 'a hen the hand with the long suit has no Re- 
entry, lose what tricks you must in the suit 
while partner's hand has still a card of the 
suit left to lead. 

a: With AKxxxx and no card of Re-entry - If 
your other hand has but two little cards 
of the suit, refuse to take the first trick, 
hoping that on the second lead, the Ace and 
King will draw all the remaining cards and 
you will make the entire suit. 

bt With Axxxx in the hand with no Re-entries 
and three small cards in the other hand it 
is necessary to "Duck" the suit twice re- 
fusing to play the Ace until the third 
round. 

c: With a long Ace-Queen suit in the hand 
with no Re-entry - Holding only two small 
cards of the suit in the other hand, M Duck M 
the first round of the suit, 'and on the 
second round finesse the Queen. If finesse 
is successful you may make the entire suit, 
d: It is sometimes necessary to "Duck" a suit 
in order to keep the hand with an established 
suit from getting the lead* 

OVERTAKING AND DUCKING 
rhen the Original Leader opens dummy's long suit 
it is sometimes necessary to Overtake dummy's 
trick and lead the suit back through the leader. 
If Dummv has no Re-entry, refuse to take the 
second trick in order to lead a third time from 
your own hand. 

Example: K92 in your hand and A108765 in dummy 
with no Re-entry. Adversary leads three and 
Third Hand refuses. Overtake dummy 1 s five with 
the King and return the nine. If adversary plays 
the Jack refuse to take the trick. 

Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Haverford, Fa., 1921. 



STRATEGY 
THE BATH COUP 



Holding the Ace and Jack of your adversary's 
suit, fourth hand, refuse to play the Ace when 
King is led. You are then sure of two tricks 
if he continues the suit. When the fcing is 
played by Third Hand on his partner's low lead, 
it is not the Bath Coup. Take the trick and 
try to keep that adversary from getting in to 
lead through the Jack. 

PES CHAPELLE COU P 
Sacrificing a high card by leading or playing it 
to make a Re-entry for your partner's hand. 

THE GRAND COUP . 

Trumping your own trick in order to lead a suit 
from the right hand. 

THROWING THE LEAD 

If you have a tenace or guarded honor and are un- 
able to get into the right hand to lead up to it„ 
or when you kncT from the bidding that a finesse 
Y/ould be unsuccessful, try to put the proper ad- 
versary in the lead hoping to force him to lead 
the suit up to you. 

Watch closely your adversaries' game and take 
advantage of any peculiarities of Bidding and 
Play. You can usually judge from the bidding 
which of your opponents holds the strength in 
your suit. If on your left be careful about 
overbidding as you will probably be doubled, 
but if on your right you can often count on your 
left hand adversary continuing the bidding, es- 
pecially if his partner has helped him. 
If you want high cards to fall, lead high cards. 

Elizabeth C. Boyden, 
Haverford, Pa., 1921. 




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